Jon Jones: “I had no real intention of being a UFC fighter…”

Regardless of whether you believe in fate or pure luck, some strange force intervened in the life of a 20-year old man named Jon Jones and put him on a path he would have never explored otherwise – Mixed Martial Arts. As fans know now, Jones would go on to become UFC champion five years later and remains one of the most dominating forces in the sport today.

According to Jones, before deciding to give the sport a go he was college dropout looking for a good job in order to take care of his family and nearly took up work as a janitor before a random message changed his life – and MMA – forever.

“It’s the God’s honest truth. I had no real intention of being a UFC fighter, and this guy just threw the idea out there and I went with it,” said Jones in an interview with the New York Times, referring to a stranger’s online assessment of his physical tools and advice to check out a gym as a result.

Though Jones is seen as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world based on the way he has dismantled former UFC champions like Mauricio Rua, Lyoto Machida, Rashad Evans, and Quinton Jackson, the 25-year old doesn’t view himself as anything special other than being in a privileged position of influence.

“I don’t believe a champion is the biggest, baddest, meanest dude in the world,” explained Jones. “I think the champion is like a warrior; it’s like the head knight or lead samurai: humble men of integrity, respect and honor that treat people kindly.”

Of course, the 17-1 Jones won’t be handling UFC 159 foe Chael Sonnen with kiddy gloves. The two have butted heads over the past few weeks leading up to the bout, building off some bad feelings created in late 2012 when the two nearly squared off on short notice.

“When I fight someone who’s not a good person, I want to beat him. He wants a championship belt? Fine. It’s just not going to be my belt,” he stated when asked about his approach to Saturday night’s scrap with Sonnen.